Home Care

For minor, common causes of neck pain:

Apply heat or ice to the painful area. Use ice for the first 48 to 72 hours, then use heat after that. Heat may be applied with warm showers, hot compresses, or a heating pad. To prevent injuring your skin, do not fall asleep with a heating pad or ice bag in place.

Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Stop normal physical activity for the first few days. This helps calm your symptoms and reduce inflammation.

Do slow range-of-motion exercises, up and down, side to side, and from ear to ear. This helps to gently stretch the neck muscles.

Have a partner gently massage the sore or painful areas.

Try sleeping on a firm mattress without a pillow or with a special neck pillow.

Ask your health care provider about using a soft neck collar to relieve discomfort. Do not use the collar for a long time. Doing so can make your neck muscles weaker.

You may want to reduce your activity only for the first couple of days. Then slowly resume your usual activities. Do not do any heavy lifting or twisting of your back or neck for the first 6 weeks after the pain begins. After 2 to 3 weeks, slowly begin exercising again. A physical therapist can help you decide when to begin stretching and strengthening exercises and how to do them.

Do not do the following during your early recovery, unless your doctor or physical therapist says it is OK:

Jogging

Football

Golf

Ballet

Weight lifting

Leg lifts when lying on your stomach

Sit-ups with straight legs (rather than bent knees)

The following steps can prevent neck pain or help your neck pain improve:

Use relaxation techniques and regular exercise to prevent stress and tension to the neck muscles.

Learn stretching exercises for your neck and upper body. Stretch every day, especially before and after exercise. A physical therapist can teach you these exercises.

Use good posture, especially if you sit at a desk all day. Keep your back supported. Adjust your computer monitor to eye level. This prevents you from continually looking up or down.

If you work at a computer, stretch your neck every hour or so.

Use a headset when on the telephone, especially if answering or using the phone is a main part of your job.

When reading or typing from documents at your desk, place them in a holder at eye level.

Evaluate your sleeping conditions. Make sure your pillow is properly and comfortably supporting your head and neck. You may need a special neck pillow. Make sure your mattress is firm enough.

Use seat belts and bike helmets to prevent injuries.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Seek medical help right away if:

You have a fever and headache, and your neck is so stiff that you cannot touch your chin to your chest. This may be meningitis. Call your local emergency number (such as 911) or get to a hospital.

You have symptoms of a heart attack, such as shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, vomiting, or arm or jaw pain.

Call your health care provider if:

Symptoms do not go away in 1 week with self care

You have numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm or hand

Your neck pain was caused by a fall, blow, or injury -- if you cannot move your arm or hand, have someone call 911

Do you have any accompanying symptoms like numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm or hand?

Do you have swollen glands or a lump in your neck?

Your answers help the doctor determine the cause of your neck pain and whether it is likely to quickly get better with simple measures such as ice, mild painkillers, physical therapy, and proper exercises. Most of the time, neck pain will get better in 4 to 6 weeks using these approaches.

Your doctor or nurse will probably not order any tests during the first visit, unless you have symptoms or a medical history that suggests a tumor, infection, fracture, or serious nerve disorder. In that case, the following tests may be done:

If the pain is due to muscle spasm or a pinched nerve, your health care provider may prescribe a muscle relaxant or a more powerful pain reliever. Over-the-counter medications often work as well as prescription drugs. The health care provider may prescribe a neck collar or, if there is nerve damage, refer you to a neurologist or neurosurgeon for consultation.

If your doctor or nurse thinks your neck pain may be due to meningitis, you will be sent to an emergency department for further tests and treatment.